Italy rewards the unhurried traveler. From Rome’s millennia of history layered in stone to Venice’s whispered canals and car-free lanes, this itinerary keeps the pace gentle while still delivering the classics. Expect restorative mornings, scenic ambles, and food you’ll talk about for years.

Across seven days, you’ll explore the Vatican’s masterpieces, wander the Colosseum and Forum at your own rhythm, then trade city bustle for Venice’s gliding vaporetti, artisan islands, and cicchetti bars. Trains connect the two cities comfortably, making this a smooth, stress-light journey.

Practical notes: book major sights in advance (especially the Vatican), carry a refillable water bottle, and embrace Italy’s rhythm—espresso standing up, long lunches, and golden-hour aperitivo. With budget-minded stays and neighborhood eateries, this plan fits a modest spend without cutting the magic.

Rome

Rome is a living museum, where everyday life weaves around imperial forums, Baroque fountains, and bustling markets. The best way to savor it is slowly: a cappuccino at the counter, a stroll past ocher facades, and a piazza bench for people-watching.

Top sights include the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill; the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel; and sunset viewpoints like the Orange Garden and Pincio Terrace. Balance headline attractions with time in Testaccio and Trastevere for honest Roman cooking.

• Food highlights: Pizzarium Bonci for creative al taglio slices, Da Enzo al 29 for soulful trattoria fare, Roscioli Forno for pizza bianca, Trapizzino for stuffed-pocket street eats, and Gelateria del Teatro for seasonal gelato.
• Relaxing corners: Villa Borghese gardens (rowboats and shaded paths), Aventine’s Orange Garden and keyhole, and along the Tiber at golden hour.

Where to stay (budget to splurge):

• The Beehive (budget-friendly, near Termini) — easy transit, clean and social.
• Hotel Santa Maria (Trastevere, cozy courtyards) — quiet yet lively neighborhood at night.
• Kolbe Hotel Rome (by the Forum) — garden calm steps from ancient Rome.
• Browse more stays: Hotels.com: Rome | Apartments: VRBO: Rome

Getting to Rome: Search flights to Rome (FCO/CIA) with Omio (Flights). From FCO, the Leonardo Express reaches Termini in about 32 minutes; regional trains and airport buses take longer but cost less.

Day 1 — Arrive and Ease into Trastevere

Afternoon: Land in Rome and settle into your hotel. Stretch your legs with a gentle loop through Trastevere’s cobbles—peek into Santa Maria in Trastevere and pause for an espresso at Caffè Settimiano or a granita di caffè at Bar San Calisto.

Evening: Dinner at Da Enzo al 29 (book ahead) for carbonara or amatriciana; or Trattoria Da Teo for Roman artichokes when in season. Stroll the Tiber Island and grab gelato at Gelateria del Teatro before an early night.

Day 2 — Vatican Masterpieces and a Breezy City Tour

Morning: Explore the Vatican with a guide to skip crowds and decode the highlights, from Raphael Rooms to Michelangelo’s ceiling.

Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St Peter’s Basilica Guided Tour

Afternoon: Lunch in Prati: Pastasciutta for affordable fresh pasta bowls, or Pizzarium Bonci near the Vatican walls for inventive slices. Walk the colonnades of St. Peter’s Square and the bridge to Castel Sant’Angelo for river views.

Evening: See Rome’s greatest hits with minimal walking on a small-group golf cart ride—fountains, piazzas, and gelato included. Perfect when feet are done but curiosity isn’t.

Rome Highlights City Tour by Golf Cart with Gelato

Day 3 — Ancient Rome at Your Own Pace

Morning: Enter the Colosseum with an escorted ticket and audio guide so you can linger where you like. Step into the amphitheater’s arches and imagine the crowd’s roar.

Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill Admission With Audio Guide

Afternoon: Continue through the Roman Forum and up Palatine Hill for sweeping city views. Lunch in Monti at La Carbonara (the trattoria; get the cacio e pepe) or Urbana 47 for a lighter, market-driven plate.

Evening: Sunset from the Capitoline Hill terraces, then dinner in Testaccio: Felice a Testaccio for tonnarelli cacio e pepe tossed at the table, or Piatto Romano for seasonal Roman classics. Finish with a nightcap along Via Marmorata.

Venice

Venice is a dreamscape of marble palazzi and lapping water, a city that rewards wandering without a map. With no cars and endless little bridges, it’s tailor-made for slow days and golden-hour light.

Beyond St. Mark’s and the Rialto Bridge, savor cicchetti bars, neighborhood canals in Cannaregio and Dorsoduro, and artisan islands like Murano (glass) and Burano (lace, rainbow houses). A vaporetto pass makes the lagoon your scenic transit line.

• Food highlights: All’Arco for cicchetti and ombra wine, Osteria al Portego’s tiny standing room, Trattoria alla Vedova’s meatballs, Al Timon’s canalside tables, and Suso Gelatoteca for dessert.
• Relaxing corners: Zattere promenade at sunset, quiet cloister of San Francesco della Vigna, and gondola-free back canals of Dorsoduro.

Where to stay (budget to splurge):

• Hotel Antiche Figure (beside Santa Lucia station) — convenient, friendly, and ideal for train travelers.
• Hilton Molino Stucky (Giudecca, rooftop views) — quiet island feel with shuttle boat.
• The Gritti Palace or Belmond Hotel Cipriani — iconic splurges if you decide to upgrade.
• Browse more stays: Hotels.com: Venice | Apartments: VRBO: Venice

Rome ➝ Venice by train: Take a morning Frecciarossa from Roma Termini to Venezia S. Lucia (~3h 45m, advance fares often €29–€70). Book via Omio (Trains). If you prefer a cheaper option, look at Intercity trains (slower) or buses via Omio (Buses).

Day 4 — Train to Venice, Cannaregio at Twilight

Morning: Depart Rome after breakfast; grab pizza bianca and espresso to-go from Roscioli Forno before your train. Enjoy Adriatic views as you roll into Venice Santa Lucia.

Afternoon: Check in and learn the vaporetto lines. Ride down the Grand Canal on Line 1 for a floating architecture tour. Coffee at Torrefazione Cannaregio—roasted on-site and perfect for a mid-day reset.

Evening: Cicchetti crawl: All’Arco (early, it’s tiny), Cantina Do Spade (near Rialto, historic), and Osteria Al Portego (bacari classics). For a budget-friendly “gondola moment,” cross the Grand Canal on a traghetto near Santa Sofia for a few euros.

Day 5 — Artisan Islands: Murano & Burano

Morning: Glide across the lagoon by private boat on a small-group tour. Watch master glassblowers in Murano and wander Burano’s kaleidoscopic lanes and lace workshops—an easy, photogenic half-day.

Murano & Burano Islands Guided Small-Group Tour by Private Boat

Afternoon: Lunch on Burano at Trattoria da Primo e Paolo (simple seafood risotti) or return to Venice for a canal-side plate at Osteria al Bacco in Cannaregio. Take a siesta or read by the water at Fondamenta Misericordia.

Evening: Dinner in Dorsoduro at Osteria Enoteca Ai Artisti (seasonal Venetian plates) or Al Timon (grilled meats and boatside tables). Gelato at Suso near San Marco before the piazza empties.

Day 6 — Secret Venice and Sunset on the Zattere

Morning: Visit the Rialto Market early for produce and lagoon fish displays; grab a warm brioche and cappuccino at Pasticceria Tonolo. Duck into the quiet cloister of San Francesco della Vigna or explore the Scuola Grande di San Rocco for Tintoretto’s canvases.

Afternoon: Slow wander of Dorsoduro’s galleries; if you prefer open air, trace the Zattere promenade with pauses for spritz and cicchetti. Lunch options: Cantine del Vino già Schiavi (wine shop with bite-sized toasts) or Rosticceria Gislon for budget-friendly Venetian comfort plates.

Evening: Blue-hour finale: float the Grand Canal on Vaporetto Line 1 from Accademia to Rialto and back. Farewell dinner at Trattoria alla Vedova (get the meatballs) or Osteria Bancogiro (Rialto-side terrace).

Day 7 — A Last Stroll and Departure

Morning: Coffee at Caffè del Doge and a final loop through Castello’s backstreets. Pick up small gifts—Murano glass pendants or Burano lace bookmarks—for easy-to-pack souvenirs.

Afternoon: Head to the airport by Alilaguna water bus or bus from Piazzale Roma. Search flights home on Omio (Flights). Arrivederci—until next time.

Cost-Savvy, Relaxing Tips

• Travel off-peak hours for cheaper train fares via Omio (Trains), and consider regional or bus options for extra savings.
• Prioritize one or two paid sights per day; fill the rest with free viewpoints, churches, and neighborhood walks.
• Eat like a local: stand at the bar for coffee, choose “menu del giorno” at lunch, and graze on cicchetti for a low-cost dinner.
• In Venice, a 48–72 hour ACTV pass can reduce per-ride costs if you’ll use vaporetti often.

Optional Rome add-ons if you have extra energy: Pasta-making near Navona or a Tuscany day trip offer fun diversions. For example: 3 in 1 Cooking Class near Navona: Fettuccine, Ravioli & Tiramisu.

Across seven days, you’ll savor Rome’s ancient drama and Venice’s watery hush without rushing. With smart train links, skip-the-line entries, and neighborhood eats, this itinerary keeps the focus on the good life—la dolce vita—at a comfortably relaxed pace.